Topaz Starlight is a video upscaler / video enhancement model family, released in April 2026. These are AI models for improving video resolution and perceived detail, especially for upscaling footage toward HD and 4K.
Topaz Labs is an AI imaging company started in 2001. It works on tools for improving images and video using AI. Its lineup includes Topaz Video, Topaz Photo, Gigapixel, and Topaz Studio.
It uses a paid subscription setup.
The newer Starlight update splits video upscaling into three model types. Each one focuses on a different need like speed or quality.
Starlight Precise 2.5 focuses on accuracy. It is built to make AI-made video look more real at up to 4K. It improves faces, text, and fabric detail and reduces fake-looking textures. It runs in the Astra cloud app, not locally.
Starlight Fast 2 focuses on speed. It runs locally and is meant for users who want quicker results. It can be 3 to 5 times faster than older models depending on hardware. But it trades some quality for speed and is not meant for very damaged footage.
Starlight HQ sits in the middle. It aims for better detail and consistency than Fast 2 but takes longer to render. It works best for decent quality footage and not heavy restoration jobs.
All Starlight models focus on video upscaling and can output up to 4K. They support scaling like 2x, 3x, and 4x. Some models can run locally, so users can process video on their own machines.
For hardware, the local models need strong GPUs. Fast 2 needs about 16 GB VRAM and more system RAM. HQ needs around 10 GB VRAM or more. Both are limited to Windows with NVIDIA GPUs for now. Mac support is not available yet.
If you'd like to access this model, you can explore the following possibilities:
